After a week in which Min once again showcased his stellar potential, this is an opportune time to assess the prospects of some of the brightest novices in the country as Cheltenham draws ever closer.

A whitewash of the Irish runners in the Cheltenham bumper last season gave some cause for concern regarding this term’s novice hurdlers. Such fears have been allayed to a large extent though with Willie Mullins again holding plenty of aces in this sphere.

The obvious starting point is Min after his tour de force in a Punchestown Grade 2 last weekend. Admittedly he did race keenly and this wasn’t the strongest event of its kind but it was the manner of this victory more than the substance of the form which indicated that he was another Grade 1 winner in waiting for Mullins. He is a superb jumper and his trainer believes that he will improve on better ground while he is virtually assured of a much stronger pace at Cheltenham that will only aid his cause.

Douvan and Vautour both won the same Punchestown Grade 2 en route to landing the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and there is every reason to believe that this horse can follow suit. Presumably Min will go down the Supreme Novices route and he is a worthy favourite for the race at this stage while there is the promise of much more to come from this gelding.

Mullins contenders

While Min’s Cheltenham target looks easy to identify, plans for a number of his stablemates look fluid. Bellshill has carried all before him over hurdles so far with his three wins culminating in a Grade 1 triumph at Naas recently. Meanwhile, Yorkhill followed his maiden win with victory in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

Both have options of the Supreme Novices or the Neptune Invesment Management Novice Hurdle and would be worthy contenders for either, although of the pair Yorkhill might just be a stronger candidate. He looks potentially top-notch and could take beating if pointed in the direction of the Neptune.

Elsewhere, Up For Review sets the clear standard in the staying division and looks his trainer’s chief hope for Albert Bartlett glory. However, the Fairyhouse Grade 3 winner Gangster is worth a mention in this category while it will be interesting to see how A Toi Phil progresses from his Leopardstown maiden win last month.

Such is the strength of the Mullins novice hurdlers that the admirable Long Dog tends to get somewhat overshadowed by some of his stablemates despite his remarkable campaign. His season began with a maiden hurdle win at Sligo in July and he is now unbeaten in his last six starts which have taken in a couple of Grade 1 triumphs. He is an admirable type and his considerable experience coupled with a marked drive to win will stand him in good stead in March.

Tombstone

Away from the promising Mullins battalions, mention must be made of a couple of other novices. Gordon Elliott’s Tombstone was somewhat unlucky when second to Long Dog at Christmas and he remains a very promising sort with realistic ambitions of bagging a Grade 1 triumph before the end of the season. Indeed, he could make a real impact if connections opted to go for one of the longer novice hurdles at Cheltenham. Between now and March, the build-up to the Supreme Novices Hurdle will be dominated by Min but further down the pecking order, one that does make significant each-way appeal is Supasundae. This dual bumper has taken a couple of runs to warm to his task over hurdles but when the penny did eventually drop at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he posted an impressive display to thrash former Cheltenham winner Silver Concorde.

On the juvenile front, Aidan O’Brien’s Ivanovich Gorbatov sets the standard following his smooth maiden hurdle win at Leopardstown over Christmas. A smart flat horse, he took really well to this new discipline and looks a lively Triumph candidate.

The Mullins-trained French import Apple’s Jade is respected after springing a minor surprise to win a Grade 2 on her Irish debut last month, beating the admirable Jer’s Girl. Both fillies can continue to hold their own in decent company. Campeador, a well regarded French import, compromised his chances when racing much too freely in that same Grade 2. He still wasn’t disgraced in fourth and he remains a horse of interest.